iCOPE The world-leading perinatal digital screening tool
About iCOPE
iCOPE is a world leading digital screening tool that facilitates efficient and effective mental health screening in the perinatal period (pregnancy and year following birth), developed by Diginostic, in partnership with the Centre of Perinatal Excellence (COPE).
The iCOPE screen integrates the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), the Antenatal/Postnatal Risk Questionnaire (ANRQ/PNRQ), plus an optional jurisdiction-specific family violence screen.
The Diginostic team have implemented and trained over 5,500 health professionals to utilise iCOPE, facilitating effective and efficient perinatal mental health screening, with over 2,000 mothers being screened weekly across Australia.
Digital screening scales included with iCOPE
EPDS
The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS)* is a 10 item self-report questionnaire developed and validated to assist health professionals in detecting expectant and new mothers at risk of or experiencing symptoms of perinatal anxiety and depression.
ANRQ / PNRQ
The Antenatal Risk Questionnaire and Postnatal Risk Questionnaire* is a self-report psychosocial assessment tool that helps to identify expectant and new parents who may be at risk of developing perinatal mental health issues.
Additional screening tools available
Family Violence screen
Family Violence (FV) screening is used to assess experiences of family and/or domestic violence during the perinatal period, identifying risks to maternal and infant health. iCOPE offers jurisdiction-specific FV tools, including the Safe Start FV questionnaire and the FV Multi-Agency Risk Assessment and Management Framework (MARAM).
The Kimberley Mum’s Mood scale
The Kimberley Mum’s Mood scale (KMMS)* offers a culturally centred screening process designed to identify depression and anxiety in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women in the perinatal period. Co-designed with Aboriginal women and professionals, it combines an EPDS-equivalent with a culturally sensitive yarning process.
Mt. Isa Postnatal Depression scale
The Mt Isa Postnatal Depression scale, developed under the National Perinatal Depression Initiative, is tailored for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women. It mirrors the EPDS, using clinician-led discussions and culturally appropriate language. Psychosocial risk factors are explored using the ANRQ via the iCOPE screening tool.
Federal funding and national rollout
Public Maternity Hospitals + Maternal Child and Family Health Services
Diginostic is managing the national rollout of the iCOPE digital screening program to all public maternity hospitals and maternal child and family health services across the country as part of the Commonwealth Government's National Perinatal Mental Health Check initiative. The iCOPE application secured on the Diginostic platform is being used by more than 5,500 health professionals across Australia.
Jurisdictions engaged in the national digital screening program
MBS billing
Private Healthcare
The iCOPE application is exclusively available on the Diginostic platform, to all General Practitioners, Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, private hospitals and private practitioners. Approved MBS billing allows patient consent for bulk billing and telehealth consultation, whilst meeting all auditing requirements.
MBS #16590
Planning and management of a pregnancy from 28 weeks, including a mental health assessment.
MBS #16522
Management of labour and birth under specific complicated conditions, including postnatal care for 7 days.
MBS #16407
Postnatal consultation (20+ minutes) between 4 - 8 weeks, including mental health screening assessment.
iCOPE screening process
Screen
Patients receive a secure link via SMS or QR code to complete a screening questionnaire on their personal device, designed to be user-friendly for improved engagement and accuracy.
Integrate
The results are instantly generated into a report, seamlessly integrating with existing clinical workflows. These summary reports support clinicians in efficiently assessing patient needs and determining appropriate next steps.
Connect
Based on the screening results in the summary report, health professionals can engage in targeted discussions and follow referral pathways. Patients can also opt to receive a report that links to education and the eCOPE Directory of support services.
How these screens can be conducted
iCOPE is a digital screening application that enables secure and remote patient screening in a variety of settings
Clinician’s tablet device
For in-person appointments, the screen can be completed on an iPad supplied to patients either in the waiting room prior to the consultation, or within the consultation. These iPads are registered with the service, locked down and cannot be used for any other purpose.
Patient's mobile device
A link can be sent to the client at, or prior to their appointment via SMS or QR code. This enables the client to complete their screen in the clinic waiting room, or at home prior to a telehealth consultation.
Clinician’s desktop
The clinician can access the digital health platform on their desktop computer and complete the screen with the patient during the consultation (either in person or via telehealth).
On completion of a screen, scores are calculated, interpreted and two types of reports are instantly generated.
The digital screening program mission
To support the Commonwealth Government in achieving its goal of universal, routine digital screening for expectant and new mothers across Australia, promoting optimal mental and emotional health outcomes for mothers and their families.
Language diversity
iCOPE is available in 25 languages, increasing accessibility by enabling individuals from diverse backgrounds to complete the screen and receive a tailored patient report in their preferred language.
- Arabic
- Burmese
- Cantonese
- Central Khmer
- Chin Hakka
- Dari
- Dinka
- English
- French
- Hazaragi
- Hindi
- Indonesian
- Japanese
- Karen
- Korean
- Mandarin
- Nepali
- Persian/Farsi
- Punjabi
- Tagalog
- Tamil
- Thai
- Turkish
- Urdu
- Vietnamese
Digital is better
Ensures 100% accuracy through automated scoring and instantly generated reports.
Saves clinicians time by patients completing screening questions before an appointment - at home or in the waiting room.
Integrates with patient record systems seamlessly by directly uploading summary reports to medical records, including My Health Record.
Facilitates secure data collection enabling services to export their own data, monitor screening outcomes, and enhance patient care.
Guides best practice with instant reports featuring a narrative summary tailored to screening scores.
Empowers patients by enabling screening questions to be completed remotely, enhancing privacy and honesty.
Want to learn more?
Get in touch and one of our digital screening specialists will contact you shortly.